Latest News Summary: South Korean President Lifts Emergency Martial Law – What Happened Overnight?
Overview of Events
In recent times, political divisions and disputes in South Korea have intensified, capturing widespread public attention.
On the evening of December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced a “state of emergency” during a televised address, citing multiple reasons for this drastic measure. He accused the opposition party of manipulating the National Assembly and disrupting national governance, pledging to eliminate what he termed “anti-state forces” within the country.
President Yoon’s Reasons for Declaring Martial Law
During his address, President Yoon mentioned that since his administration took office, the National Assembly has initiated 22 impeachment motions against government officials, with 10 officials facing impeachment since the formation of the 22nd National Assembly in June of this year. He claimed the assembly had intimidated judges and impeached numerous prosecutors, effectively paralyzing the judicial system. Moreover, he accused them of attempting to impeach key figures, including the Minister of Public Administration, the Chairman of the Radio and Television Commission, the Auditor General, and the Minister of National Defense, resulting in a near-total paralysis of the executive branch.
President Yoon also criticized the opposition for fully cutting the main budgets related to national core functions, drug crime prevention, and public safety, asserting that this had transformed South Korea into a “drug paradise” plagued by security crises. He claimed that the Democratic Party had turned budget discussions into political struggles, disregarding citizens’ livelihoods and focusing solely on impeachment and protecting its representatives from judicial accountability.
Response from the Opposition
In the early hours of December 4, the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, condemned President Yoon for “allegedly inciting internal unrest.” Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, the party convened an emergency meeting, with leader Lee Jae-myung calling on citizens to protect the National Assembly. He further declared, “From this moment on, Yoon Suk-yeol is no longer the president of South Korea.”
Key Developments
- Military Presence in the National Assembly: Conflicts unfolded as South Korean military personnel were deployed to maintain order at the National Assembly.
- Parliamentary Meeting: On December 4, a meeting was held with 190 National Assembly members present. The assembly unanimously passed a resolution to revoke the president’s martial law decree.
- Reversal of Martial Law: Around 4:27 a.m. on December 4, President Yoon, via a live broadcast, announced his acceptance of the National Assembly’s request to lift the emergency decree, just over six hours after its announcement.
- Military Withdrawal: The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the withdrawal of all forces deployed under the emergency decree at 4:22 a.m. on December 4.
- Emergency Government Meeting: An emergency cabinet meeting was convened in South Korea to deliberate on the resolution to lift the emergency martial law.
- Ruling Party Discussions: The leadership of the ruling People Power Party held an emergency meeting on December 4 to discuss strategies following the president’s announcement to lift martial law. Reports indicate that there was a partial consensus on issues such as President Yoon’s resignation from the party, a call for the entire cabinet to resign, and the dismissal of Defense Minister Kim Dong-hyun.
Embassy Advisory for Chinese Citizens
The Chinese Embassy in South Korea issued a reminder late on December 3 regarding the emergency martial law declaration, emphasizing that military commanders had prohibited all political activities while assuring that daily life for ordinary citizens would be maintained as much as possible. The embassy urged Chinese nationals in South Korea to remain calm, stay informed about political developments, enhance their awareness of safety, limit unnecessary outings, and be cautious in expressing political opinions.
The Chinese Embassy reiterated early on December 4 that societal order in South Korea was normal, urging Chinese citizens to return to their daily routines while remaining vigilant and aware of the local situation and enhancing personal safety measures.
This summary highlights the rapid developments in South Korea’s political landscape and the implications for both citizens and international observers.
